Alleged gunfights kill 2 more, toll reaches 143

Alleged gunfights with police killed two more men in Rangpur and Thakurgaon districts early Friday.

The deceased are Abu Musa alias Bish Kalai, 27, son of one Kuddus Ali, from Hanumantola in Rangpur district town, and Shamim Hossain, 42, son of a certain Abdus Sattar of Bhabanandapur village in Ranishankoil upazila of Thakurgaon.

With the death of Abu Musa and Shamim Hossain, the number has risen to at least 143 during the anti-narcotics drives across the country in the last 26 days.

Among them, a total of 77 people were killed in alleged gunfights with police and DB members, 34 with RAB and 32 were killed during 'gunfights' between rival groups, claimed law enforcement agencies.

However, the law enforcement’s descriptions of the incidents could not be verified independently.

In Rangpur, Abu Musa was killed in a reported gunfight with police in Kukrul Amertal Tinratar Mor area of the district town around 3:30pm, said additional superintendent of police in Rangpur district Saifur Rahman.

Abu Musa was a drug trader, claimed police.

Acting on tip off that Abu Musa and his cohorts were staying in the area, police conducted a drive there, said Saifur Rahman.

Sensing the presence of police they opened fire, prompting the law enforcement to shoot back that triggered the gunfight, he added.

Abu Musa received a bullet injury while fleeing the scene, the additional superintendent of police said.

Police recovered a locally made pistol, three rounds of bullet, 50 pieces of yaba pills and five bottles of phensedyl from the spot.

Deceased Abu Musa was accused in 10 law suits, Saifur Rahman added.

Police sent the body to Rangpur Medical College Hospital morgue for an autopsy.

UNB adds: In Thakurgaon, Shamim Hossain was killed in a so-called gunfight with police at Bhadreshwaribandar in Ranishankail upazila.

Tipped off, a team of police conducted a drive in the area in the early hours on Friday.

Sensing the presence of the law enforcement, Shamim and his cohorts fired gunshots on police forcing them to fire back in self-defence, leaving Shamim dead on the spot, said Abdul Mannan, officer-in-charge of Ranishankoil police station.

He was wanted in several cases, including that of drugs, he said.

Two policemen were also injured in the incident, the OC added.

He claimed that police recovered 340 pieces of yaba tablets and two firearms from the spot.